Best of the Spectator

The Spectator Podcast: is Labour being picked apart by new rivals?

Spectator Books: what makes Shakespeare special?

Actress Cressida Bonas talks to Lara and Livvy about growing up on shepherd's pie and pop-tarts, her trypophobia, and the best curry she's ever had. Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to celebrity guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it. Listen to past episodes [here](https://audioboom.com/channels/4985181).

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. Presented by Katy Balls. Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click [here](https://audioboom.com/dashboard/4905581) to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

Iona Craig is an award-winning war correspondent who has been reporting from Yemen since 2010\. On the podcast, Iona tells Katy about her near-death experiences, dealing with survivor's guilt, and why being a woman makes her job possible. Women With Balls is a podcast series where Katy Balls speak to women at the top of their respective games. To hear past episodes, visit [spectator.co.uk/balls](http://spectator.co.uk/balls).

Cometh the hour, cometh the man? Is Boris the man to save the Tories from Nigel Farage? We talk to his former right hand man about his chances (00:45). We also discuss the latest frontier of political correctness – can fantasy fiction be racist (14:15)? And last, why are people today so squeamish about meat (28:05)? With Katy Balls, James Forsyth, Will Walden, Karen Yossman, Sam Leith, James Whetlor, and Olivia Potts. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Produced by Cindy Yu.

In this week's books podcast, Sam is joined by Ursula Buchan - the author of a hugely involving new life of her late grandfather John Buchan. The book is called Beyond the Thirty-Nine Steps (you can read Allan Massie's enthusiastic Spectator review of it [here](https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/04/was-there-no-end-to-john-buchans-talents/)), and it does as the title promises. Buchan (or "JB" to his family) is known, if he's known now at all, as the author of the pre-war thriller The Thirty-Nine Steps, later filmed by Hitchcock. Yet here was a man of staggering range and energy - diplomat, historian, politician, propagandist, poet, barrister, publisher, and (most important of all) one-time assistant editor of The Spectator. He was a proud Scot who lived most of his life out of Scotland, and whose travels took him from Boer South Africa to the Governor-General's mansion in Canada. Here's John Buchan in the round - and a granddaughter talking about how and why she sought to make his memory her own.     Presented by Sam Leith. Spectator Books is a series of literary interviews and discussions on the latest releases in the world of publishing, from poetry through to physics. Presented by Sam Leith, The Spectator's Literary Editor. Hear past episodes of Spectator Books [here](https://audioboom.com/dashboard/4905582).

In this episode, Michelin star chef Nathan Outlaw joins Lara and Livvy to talk about his love for Cornwall and seafood, training under celebrity chef Rick Stein, and how he totally didn't help his ten year old daughter win a baking competition. Table Talk is a series of podcasts where Lara Prendergast and Olivia Potts talk to celebrity guests about their life story, through the food and drink that has come to define it. Listen to past episodes [here](https://audioboom.com/dashboard/4985181).

With Katy Balls and James Forsyth. Presented by Fraser Nelson. Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click [here](https://audioboom.com/dashboard/4905581) to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

In this week’s books podcast Sam is joined by Bret Easton Ellis. The author of Less Than Zero, American Psycho and Imperial Bedrooms is here to talk about his first nonfiction book White, and the savage critical response to it. We discuss censorious millennials, the fascination of actors, his problem with David Foster Wallace, 'coming out' as Patrick Bateman - and his own personal Ed Balls Day, when he posted what he thought was a text message ordering drugs to Twitter. Presented by Sam Leith.

Can you train your brain to stay young beyond its natural age? Recent research suggests so - and we take a look at the science and what this means for society at large (00:45). Plus, we talk about the impact of grouse hunting on our countryside (9:35), and last, what does sobriety teach you (20:50)? With Damian Green MP, Linda Blair, Ben MacDonald, Tim Bonner, Damian Thompson and Tanya Gold. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Produced by Cindy Yu and Gabriel Radonich.

What does it mean to be a conservative? The Spectator brought together two of the sharpest – and controversial – minds in Britain. Douglas Murray is a leading author and journalist on multiculturalism and free speech, as well as the author of The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam. Sir Roger Scruton, author of How to Be a Conservative, is a philosopher and commentator famed for his defence of traditional conservative values.

With James Forsyth and Fraser Nelson. Presented by Katy Balls. Coffee House Shots is a series of podcasts on British politics from the Spectator's political team and special guests. Brought to you daily, click [here](https://audioboom.com/channel/coffee-house-shots) to find more episodes that are not released on Spectator Radio.

With Curt Mills, the new Washington Editor of Spectator USA. Americano is a series of in-depth discussions on American politics with the best pundits stateside. Presented by Freddy Gray, editor of Spectator USA. Click [here](https://audioboom.com/channel/americano) to listen to previous episodes.

Kate Hoey is a Labour MP for Vauxhall, having been in that role for 30 years.  Hoey talks to Katy Balls about growing up in Northern Ireland, fighting to win her current seat in Vauxhall, and how she developed a reputation as a rebel in her party. Women With Balls is a podcast series where Katy Balls speak to women at the top of their respective games. To hear past episodes, visit [spectator.co.uk/balls](http://spectator.co.uk/balls).